ONE DEFENSE TEAM | DND Celebrates 78th Anniversary

CAMP GEN EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City (DWDD) – The Department of National Defense celebrates its 78th founding anniversary today, Monday, November 6 with the theme “One Defense Team @78: Embracing the change with a more credible defense”.

The DND was formally created through Executive Order No. 230 by then President Manuel L. Quezon on November 1, 1939, to implement Commonwealth Act No.1 or the National Defense Act of 1935.

The DND has five (5) bureaus under it, namely: The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), The National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), and The Government Arsenal (GA).

Before the main event on November 6, the DND held various activities to make its 78th Anniversary celebration more meaningful.

A bloodletting activity was held at the PVAO covered court on October 18. The blood collected during the event was then donated to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) and the AFP Medical Center (AFPMC) for the benefit of soldiers, veterans and their dependents.

On October 26, the DND conducted a tree-planting activity at Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac. The event is in line with the DND’s advocacy for sustainable development and preservation of the environment.

In order to promote a healthier and friendlier work environment, a fun run was also held on November 3 at Camp Aguinaldo, which was participated in by the agency’s officials as well as military and civilian employees.

Secretary of National Defense Delfin N. Lorezana was the keynote speaker and was attended by other government officials, former secretaries of the national defense, and other personalities. DND PAS / MCAG / Photos by AMIHAN SABILLO